COYANOSA, TEXAS

Pecos County, West Texas

31°14'26"N 103°03'58"W (31.240532, -103.066121)
FM 1776 and FM 1450
26 Miles NW of Fort Stockton the county seat
28 Miles SE of Pecos
64 Miles SW of Odessa
Population: 163 (2010) 138 (2000) 270 (1990)

Book Hotel Here > Pecos Hotels

Entering Coyanosa
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008

History in a Pecan Shell

Coyanosa’s first historic event was the opening of a post office in 1908. Although it closed in 1918, the town was here to stay. Cotton farmers irrigated their fields in the drought-stricken 1950s from freshly drilled wells.

No one thought to count the residents until 1958, when they numbered 200. The post office reopened and in the early 1960s, the town was thriving with eight business and an estimated population of 600.

The infamous fuel shortages of the late 1970s put an end to irrigation and most cotton farms went belly-up. The population declined accordingly and soon it was down to 270. It has since declined to 138 for the 2000 census.

Coyanosa Welcome sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008

"Coyanosa - The only community on FM 1776"

Photographer's Note:
"Yes, Coyanosa is full of possibilities... There is the Steakhouse, just take over the payments; a garage, ready for updating; a Bed And Breakfast, transportation attached; a nearby fixer upper, some assembly required; a store, the only local business and a shop, the door is always open. As the Welcome Sign says, "The only community on FM 1776," a real selling point for the realtors. A truck stop? The only reason a truck would stop here, or near here, is a breakdown and Coyanosa can't help with that." - Barclay Gibson, February 2008

Coyanosa Post Office, TX 79730
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008
More Post Offices

Steak House Cafe ghost sign
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008
More Ghost Signs

Steak House
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008

Subject: Coyanosa Texas History fun facts

I came across your site while searching for information on Coyanosa,Texas. I wanted to let you know that the "ghost sign" from the café that you show was once owned by my parents, Gene and Frances Carr.

The photo of the "Steak House" is a photo of that café… once called Coyanosa Café. I can remember my father serving coffee and laughing with the customers, he was our cashier and host. My mother was Chief cook and dishwasher, along with us seven kids. We lived behind the café and I walked in the back door every morning for breakfast before school.

I grew up in that café. I started first grade while my parents ran that café, we caught the bus in the empty lot right beside it to ride to Fort Stockton for school. 30 miles one way… every grade on the same bus. There were about 500 people in the town at that time, not including the "gas plant people".

Later, my father became manager of Coyanosa farms and I sold cantaloupe in the produce stand you have pictured to raise money for our summer vacations. The gentleman that runs the grocery store there now, next door to the produce stand, also ran it when I was a child. I am 59 years old. He still remembers every one of us. Robert Gamboa is his name.

Those were simpler times. Good times. Thanks for the memories. - NaKina Carr Talbert, May 08, 2019

Produce stand
Photos courtesy Barclay Gibson, February 2008

Take a road trip

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories, landmarks and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.